Building Goa through BRICS

Editor Kedar Dhume in a tête-à-tête with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on hosting brics, the international economic summit in Goa, on building the state as a forerunning example of India’s prosperity, his entry into politics and personal information made public for the first time. The interview, held at the picturesque Goa Assembly complex in Porvorim, is being telecast on local television channels

BRICS is the association for five major emerging national economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and like these, Goa too is sprouting new wings following a major economic shake-up in mining, tourism and other industries. The state government, headed by Laxmikant Parsekar, is looking at new avenues to strengthen the economy, a move particularly strategic ahead of the assembly elections next year. He discusses his foray into politics, his life before it, and his vision for the future of Goa. Parsekar, who took the lead as chief minister from predecessor Manohar Parrikar in 2014, believes that the BRICS summit will benefit Goa immensely.Editor Kedar Dhume speaks to the man on whose shoulders the success of this event rests…

How did Goa become a venue for the 8th BRICS Summit? It is the uniqueness and specialty of Goa and Goans. Goa is one of 13 BJP-ruled states in India. But it is Goa’s natural beauty, and that of its people, as well as its communal harmony that made it a venue. We are a ‘mini India’ – people of all religions, all states stay here comfortably. They forget all their ills in Goa, respect each other’s sentiments, festivals, religions. They are calm here, I would say, and therefore there cannot be any other place besides Goa for BRICS. Actually it was prime minister Narendra Modiji’s decision, that the event represented by the heads of about 40 per cent of this world’s population will be hosted by Goa. This is a golden opportunity for us and I am proud to host it here.

How does Goa benefit with the hosting of the BRICS conference despite the huge expenditure? Our expenses are infrastructure that will be retained by the state. In the process of hosting BRICS, we are improving our infrastructure. But Goa will also benefit with regard to our status in tourism. Goa’s brand as international tourist destination will be greatly helped. Our tourism industry will be largely benefitted. When Goa hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) Retreat during the tenure of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1983, we got the same benefit. Thereafter Goa has improved a lot and this time we are confident of the benefit that will be useful for us in years to come.

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